Specialist rescue workers had to travel 75km to rescue a workman who fell while repairing a historic church tower.

Local emergency services were unable to reach the man in the church tower in Velddriel, a small town in Gelderland 8km north of Den Bosch, after the accident on Monday morning.

He had to wait while the specialist Height Rescue Team travelled from Rotterdam to carry out the delicate two-hour operation. The team is trained to work in difficult locations with mountain rescue equipment.

It is not known what injuries the man suffered, but local media reported he was conscious and responsive during the rescue.